This year’s keynote address at the BVA Members’ Day will focus on how proximity to nature can help enhance veterinary well-being.

This year’s keynote address at the BVA Members’ Day will focus on how proximity to nature can help enhance veterinary well-being.

Rebecca Lovell, research fellow at the University of Exeter Medical School European Centre for Environment and Human Health, will deliver the address at the At-Bristol Science Centre on 22 September.

Dr Lovell will draw on her research, which focuses on understanding the ways people can benefit from proximity to – and contact with – natural environments.

She will highlight health and well-being benefits of higher quality and biodiverse spaces and places, linking this to veterinary well-being, as well as addressing synergies between the health of ecosystems, humans and animals.

‘Immense interest’

Rebecca Lovell. Image: University of Exeter Medical School.

BVA president Sean Wensley said: “Dr Lovell’s work has immense interest for the veterinary profession in at least two areas – how proximity to nature can help enhance veterinary well-being and how, as an animal welfare-focused, globally aware and socially responsible profession, we can all develop our activities in conserving biodiversity within our expanding one health approach.”

Dr Lovell said: “We are working to understand the many links between the health of the environment, and that of the humans and animals who depend on it.

“Ensuring our evidence is heard by – and relevant to – all sectors with an interest in environment-health linkages is crucial and I am looking forward to sharing and discussing key findings on the members’ day.”

What’s involved

The day will include the BVA awards ceremony, annual meeting and an ITN-sponsored drinks reception premiering the latest Veterinary View series from BVA and ITN productions, which will feature short films on antimicrobial resistance, the varied roles of vets, the value of the whole vet team and other topical issues.

The BVA Members’ Day is free and open for all BVA members to attend. Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended.